I have heard this sentence come from my mother’s mouth more than I can count. But I think now she is right. The easy things in our lives are actually diminishing our quality of life, both physically and intellectually.
First, ChatGPT. It is the main source of all information among teens. While on vacation, I saw how many young adults were hooked on GPT’s overflowing knowledge, simplifying Google’s user experience even more, which shook the world with its easy usage in the first place. I see my cousin use ChatGPT as the Holy Grail to search up anything she wants as it combines multiple searches on the internet into three, easy, bolded sentences. I see her talk to it as a friend to get advice on drama and boys and school. It is a hub of everything you need, and it slowly destroys you.
This software, I think, will easily replace the innate need to search for anything ourselves in the first place. I mean, why would you? The answer is only one click away.Instead of reading, or thinking, we type. And this transition has already begun. In addition to breaking down creativity, it is also destroying our environment, emitting 8.4 tons of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere per year. So it is not only feeding into our laziness, but the decline of our planet.
Next, social media. As an avid user I can say that I am fully in Meta’s grasp, sorry! Though Instagram and TikTok and whatnot give us a way to stay connected, it is really just another bandaid to ease our boredom. A recent conversation I had with my boyfriend helped me understand this. He told me social media is used to escape whatever we are feeling in the moment, to numb our thoughts. I don’t think I could agree more. When I am in groups, I see how quickly teens switch to their phones of the conversation lulls. My cousin told me her favorite pastime is scrolling through TikTok’s endless feeds. Not a single subway train I have been on has more than one person not on their phone–including myself.
It may not seem too alarming, but slowly, this dependence on social media to feed us content will replace our needs to think, be present, or even just be bored. Does this mean I will stop using Instagram completely? Uhm.. probably not. But I definitely am trying to rely on it less.
I think the conclusion to this is that technology is man’s greatest creation and ultimate downfall (I am currently writing this on my computer…). And we have to eventually find the perfect balance and learning when to do the basic labors of daily life and when to turn to tech to help us out. Sometimes, being uncomfortable or being challenged can benefit you.
thoughts from a bklyn gal 